A client being treated for pancreatitis faces the risk of atelectasis. Which intervention would be important to minimize this risk?

• A. Monitor pulse oximetry every hour.
• B. Use incentive spirometry every hour.
• C. Withhold analgesics unless necessary.
• D. Instruct the client to cough only when necessary.

Answer: (B)

Preventing atelectasis comes from keeping lung volumes expanded with regular, deep breaths. In pancreatitis, pain often leads to shallow breathing and splinting, which allows alveoli to collapse. Incentive spirometry gives the patient a concrete, guided way to take slow, deep breaths. Using it every hour ensures continuous lung expansion, opens collapsed airways, and improves overall ventilation, which directly lowers the risk of atelectasis. While analgesia is important to allow comfortable deep breathing, the key preventive action is the structured breathing exercise provided by incentive spirometry. Monitoring oxygen helps detect problems, but it doesn’t proactively prevent alveolar collapse. Coughing is helpful for clearing secretions, but waiting to cough or relying on coughing alone doesn’t maintain the lung inflation needed to prevent atelectasis.